Hiring Decisions for Disabled Workers: Looking at the Cause

This study experimentally explored hiring recommendations involving disabled job applicants. One hundred eight supervisors and mid‐level managers reviewed the cover letter and resume of an applicant and the job description for a simulated position. The applicant's type of disability and cause of disability were systematically manipulated in the resume and cover letter. The results demonstrated that subjects made different recommendations for hiring the applicant as a function of the type as well as the cause of the disability. Implications for employers' bias are discussed and suggestions for future research are presented.